The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-01-13
TIE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..

TIE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
You will be called upcn at this session to con-
| slider measures looking to the further regulation
OF the liquor bushes, in this state Tho people
option aud the rigid enforcement OF the laws re-
lsting to the liquor traffic" and now turn to you
| In the hope and expectation that you WILL III the
form 1T suitable Hesitation. give effect to the
| verdict which they have found. Outside Of the
limited number engaged in the liquor traffic in
this state. the people. by very large majority
and without regard to political parties, favor
| the measures proposed. can no reason why
| the desired legislation should not be promptly
! enacted. It Is undoubtedly true that while the
question OF high license does not properly relate
to party politics, it is one OF intense interest
the liquor vendors OF the state, and IN cities
a ;ssa large towns hs; oecSme the predominant
| organized as compact power for the avowed
purpose of combating all efforts looking to the
further reguation OF the LIQUOR traffic The ef-
not be otherwise than harmful All questions
are made secondary to that Of high license and
tlcularly legislative otice-is required to
pledge himself against it, or stand the
brunt Of their united opposition. in
SET In all candnr submit to you # this in not
q pernicious Influence on the legislation OF the
state Two Years ago high license bill was be-
| tore the legislature, with every prospect OF be-
| coming law, but was finally defeated through
! the organized efforts Of the liquor interests
This organization is much stronger to-day than
| 1t was them and will no doubt oppose with zeal
| worthy OF a better cause the measures proposed.
But trust thls Legislature. elected on the issue
ct high license and local option" is also
stronger on this subject than it's predecessor.
and that 1t has the courage and independence to
| refuse to be bound and controlled by the liquor
! dealers. have no word to utter against these
men-1 am willing to ooncede that many Of them
! regard the proposed measures as an infringe
ment on their personal rights and liberty, but in
! the name OF that great body OF our citizens who
believe in sobriety, in law and order. and who
recognize ana deplore The evils tra:eab!e to the
| liquor traffic. protest against that interest
being permitted to dominate the legislation OF
the state. 1t is not only your province but your
| duty to eliminate rs far as practicable these
evils. 1t is believed that high license and local
lief. and de irins to keep faith with the people,
recommend the enactment OF suitable and ef1-
Gent LEGISLATION to carry the proposed measures
During the last few years-and more especially
! during the last year or two-the subject Of
prison labor and its effect on free labor when
brought Into competition Herewith. has received
much earnest consideration. not only bv labor
organizations throughout the country. but by
thonghttul men in tho professions and other
walks OF life, whose only interest in the matter
has been one of justice to all parties concerned
and OF good to society. That prisoners should
work does not admit Of argument. For reasons
OF a!sclpllne and health; if for no other, they
not bring the products Of their labor into COM
petition with those OF free workingmen and me-
chanles Is problem which has engaged the at
tention Of many earnest and able men, and
which You will probably be called upon to con-
! sider at this session.. am we'll convinced that
Inc system &C.. OF letting The prison labor out by
this state, is unjust In many ways and should
DC abol1shed: and to this end recommend such
fsslaslon as Wlu prohibit its extension beyond
the Term OF the present contract. The price
paid by The contractor in Minnesota per convict
ls II cents a day. and this labor is utilized in
the manufacture OF articles which are sold in
the market in cor.pction with like articles
manufactured by free labor. The inevitable re-
suit OF this system is to reduce the wages Of free
other states has broken down manufacturing
establishments and thrown hundreds Of me-
chanlcs ard osher workingmen out OF employ
ment With this state II things existing it is
not to be wandered that the representatives of
free labor complain. I confess the fullest SYM
pathv with them. A state can not be greater
theirs and whatever contributes to their ad-
vantage adds to its greatness. 1t may be found
on investigation that the evils resultant from
the system in this state are not so great as
Observation-Disclosures the system, is bad and
should be abolished. Free labor nat,,ra ly rebels
against competition with the lahnr oi criminals
and who can blame it? 1t should be the policy
OF the state to exalt and dignity labor and TO
conserve Ill every reasonable and proper way
the interests OF Its laboring men. In this spirit
recommend the abzogation OF the system in
minnesota and commend the matter TO you IL,
the expectation that whatever legislation il
necessary to bring this about you will freely
grant
DRAINAGE
In July last delegate convention of residents
and property owners Of that portion of the Red
river valley lying in Minnesota was held at the
city or Crookston. to devise means and adopt
methods for a comprehensive system OF drainage
tor that fertile section OF the state The action
OF the convention resulted in the employment Of
competent engineers to make surveys adont a
report SubScOucnt xri+t 7,
estimates OF the cost OF the proposed work TIL,
report has been submitted and. am informed
Will DC laid before you with a request for lcris-
atioal in furtherance OF tho enterprise The
scheme IS ono OF great Importance, not only to
the agriculture OF that wide bet of territory.
stretching from the mouth OF the Bots dc Sioux
river on the south to the Manitoba line on the
north, with its deep alluval soil and wonderful
wheat producing powers. but to every city,
town, village and industry within its limits and
indirectly to the state NJ large doubt nos that
you vii! extend to an enterprise promising such
lar results nl the ala which the state
Visions OF sections and 10 Of article 8 OF the
constitution. The passage OF a we'll considered
drainage law, applicable to all sections of tho
state, wcud prove OF great utility. The law on
the subject, now on our statue books, has been
found inadequate to the necessities and should
much more comprehensive and better adacied
to our wants.
AsoIDIEHS' HOME.
commend to your favorable consideration
the subject OF a soldiers home. Representatives
OF several organizations of ex-sold.ers in this
state, who have for some time past given this
subject careful consideration, insist that the
time has NO" come when it is necessary for the
la'e wal. citizens of MI Dnesota who are disabled
and needy. 1t has been ascertaiued that more
than fifty eX-soldiers are subjects Of public
charity within our borders. 1t Is also O notable
fact That the generous provision made by the
government nearly twenty years ago in estab-
fishing five branch homes in different parts Of
M fyr0l~y
is unques 5icnab!y the duty OF the nation to pro-
vide for these men suitable homes. the people Of
Minnesota will never willingly consent that be-
cause OF inadequate provision made by the gen.
eral goVernmcnt, any eX-$Oldter within our bOr-
ders shall be Quarteced in an aims house Many
other states, notably Michigan aud Illinois, have
set worthy examples in this direction. 10 YOU
Is accorded the privilege of giving substantial
expression to the gratitude which the people of
Minnesota feel toward the defenders of the
1860 preserved us q nation.
The death roll Of the old soldiers tells US
PLAINLY that whatever Is to be donc in this d.
done, not as charity, but IA one of the many
obligations resting upon US as citizens OF a com
mon country for which these men did valient
service In the dark days of the rebellion.
However generously we may deal with them,
our country will still be beyond calculation
their debtor. And while would not recon-
mend extravagance even in this direction, I do
recommend such reasonable expenditure as will
secure home and comforts to these old vet
erans, leaving the details of the measure TO your
Judgment.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTIC
take pleasure in recommending the creation
and cs; establishments by suitable LEGISLATION of a
state bureau Of labor statistics. This measure
was promised by both Of the leading political
~ q matter Of good faith now, if for no Other
reason. should be carried out. hut there are
Other reasons sufficient in themselves to justify